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M. L.
FEYNALTE HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01068 8346
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HISTORY
OF THE
First Universalist Church 1st
IN SOMERVILLE, MASS. ...
ILLUSTRATED
A SOUVENIR
OF THE
FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATED February 15-21, 1904
PUBLISHED BY THE PARISH 1905
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1851594
8 :: 319 .83
Somerville, Mass. First Universalist church. History of the First Universalist church, in Somerville, Mass. Illustrat- ed. A souvenir of the fiftieth anniver- sary, celebrated February 15-21, 1902. . [Somerville ? ,1905.
LILLE CARD
0
I.H.WILEY PRES. MEN'S CLUB.
A.A.WYMAN SUPT. SUNDAY SCHOOL
MRS. L.H. BROWN PRES. SEWING CIRCLE
REV. H.D. MAXWELL PASTOR 11
MRS. F. E. BATEMAN PRES. LEND-A-HAND
Miss DOROTHEA BENSON PRES. Y.P. C.U.
MRS. G.D. HAVEN PRES. MISSION CIRCLE
OUR PASTOR AND HIS CO-WORKERS
DEDICATION
To those who, during these fifty years, bave borne the burden and beat of the day, and, like good and faithful ser= vants, have entered into the joy of their Lord, this book is dedicated in loving remem= brance.
245'30/Sec
A886
PREFACE
Since about the middle of the last century, Univer- salism has been preached in Somerville. It was early in the 'fifties that the first seeds of our faith were sown in this city, the Rev. George H. Emerson, for many years the editor of the Christian Leader, being the preacher. There can be no doubt but that from the first the seed fell upon good ground, for in February, 1854, a legal parish was organized and the work and worship firmly estab- lished. To the charter members of the parish those may have seemed days of small things, but from humble be- ginnings the faithful have pressed on until there are now three Universalist churches in Somerville, ministering to nearly a thousand families.
In view of this honorable history, it seemed that this semi-centennial year should not be allowed to pass with- out recognition. Accordingly, during the week of Feb- ruary 15, 1904, appropriate anniversary exercises were held in our church and Social Hall.
At the annual parish meeting the following March, it was voted to publish the proceedings of the observance in book form, and the committee having the matter in charge offers this volume as a permanent record of the things that were said and done at that time.
( BURNED IN 1868 )
THE FIRST CHURCH AND THE PRESENT EDIFICE
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FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
( From Somerville Journal, Friday, February 19, 1904. )
With social reunion, pleasant reminiscence, and con- gratulatory messages from sister churches, the First Universalist Church has this week revived its early his- tory, as with fitting ceremonies it has observed its semi- centennial.
The celebration of "Anniversary week" began Mon- day evening with a parish reunion and reception, held in the vestries of the church, under the management of Mrs. Robert Hayes and Mrs. R. Y. Gifford. The heavy snowstorm of the day kept many from attending, but the affair was a complete social success in every particular.
The decorating committee, Mesdames Hayes, Gifford, E. C. Bullard, R. M. Richardson, W. J. Pingree, F. L. Pingree, and L. H. Brown, and Mr. Gifford, made the large vestry look the finest it ever did with their twin- ings of greenery. The effect was heightened by many ferns, palms, potted plants, and cut flowers from Holmes' Somerville nurseries.
Shortly after 8 o'clock a reception was held by Rev. H. D. Maxwell and Mrs. Maxwell, Mrs. Lydia A. Shaw, Mrs. L. H. Brown, John F. Mills, A. A. Wyman and wife, Miss Angie Williams, George D. Haven, David Horton, and C. A. Kirkpatrick. The guests were pre- sented by W. E. Bolton, A. W. Glines, G. F. Horton, J. W. Mess, Warren Baldwin, R. K. Goodil, R. Y. Gifford, E. M. Hill, Harry Daniels, James Daniels, Oliver Wyman, Lyle Hersey, Mesdames A. W. Glines, R. Y. Gifford, F. M. Burrows, A. K. Spratt, J. W. Mess, Carrie D. Coulter, and Misses A. D. Southworth, Minnie Flagg, Fannie M. Glines, Willa Johnson, and Nellie Saben.
In the small vestries and about the right-hand side of
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FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
the vestry were six handsomely arranged and decorated tables, lighted with candelabra. The many pretty dresses of the attendants added much to the brightness of the event. W. T. Hayes, Miss Hayes, Percy Roffe, and Miss Myra Roffe presided at the chafing dishes, from which Welsh rarebit was served. Miss Nellie M. Briggs and Miss Alice Saben had a host of young misses serving frappe ; while Mesdames Hattie Foster, Letitia Cowan, Mabel Gooding, and Misses Mary C. Mills, Mabel Delano, Carrie Munroe, Annie Stover, Edna Holmes, and Grace Smith poured coffee and chocolate. Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Messer furnished delightful instrumental music, and Mrs. Carolyn Reed, of Arlington, and Harry Handy, of Hudson, gave several vocal selections during the evening.
ANNIVERSARY EXERCISES
On Wednesday evening a large congregation, which included many former parishioners, and prominent resi- dents of the city, assembled in the auditorium of the church for the anniversary exercises. Rev. Harley D. Maxwell, the pastor of the church, presided, and dis- played his shrewdness as chairman by announcing each speaker's time limit. Among the list of speakers were several former pastors, together with the ministers of the other Universalist churches of Somerville.
The decorations in the auditorium included an effec- tive grouping of palms about the church altar and pulpit, while bouquets of cut flowers were also conspicuous. From above the pulpit festoons of evergreen gracefully drooped over the significant dates 1854-1904, which, in figures of green, adorned a white background.
The exercises opened with an organ voluntary by J. L. Dennett, which was followed by the invocation by Rev. H. D. Maxwell. The church choir, Miss Anna Florence Smith, soprano, Mrs. William E. Miller, alto, W. H. S.
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FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY.
Hill, tenor, and E. S. Drowne, basso, rendered the anthem, "The Lord is my Light." Rev. Francis A. Gray read the scriptures, and prayer was offered by Rev. Charles A. Skinner, a former pastor.
Rev. H. D. Maxwell preceded his introduction of the first speaker with a few eloquent words of welcome. "The city of Somerville," said he, "has many things of which to be proud. Its soil has been pressed by heroes and martyrs. Its citizenship is progressive. It is a city of homes. Its churches are broad in spirit and motive." He then presented President E. H. Capen, of Tufts Col- lege, as the head of an institution of which Somerville is proud.
President Capen's interesting review of the life and . services of "Charles Tufts" was listened to with close attention.
John F. Ayer gave the historical address, which was a valuable contribution to the occasion.
The anniversary hymn, written for the occasion by Frank M. Hawes, was sung, following which Rev. Charles Conklin, superintendent of the Universalist churches of Massachusetts, in his short "one-minute speech" expressed the pleasure and congratulations of the other churches of the state in such an auspicious event.
Rev. Charles A. Skinner touched many tender asso- ciations of the past in his brief address. The greetings of the Winter-hill Universalist Church, now approaching a quarter-century of history, and whose original mem- bers were parishioners of the First Universalist Church, were extended by Rev. Francis A. Gray. Rev. William . A. Couden alluded to the Third Universalist Church as the youngest member of the family of Universalist churches.
The closing address was made by Rev. Levi M. Powers, of Buffalo, N. Y., who referred to several objects
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FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
of historic interest in Somerville, including Prospect Hill and its flag.
He expressed the hope that the First Universalist Church might be sufficiently endowed in order that its worthy history may be continued, when the present members no longer remain.
During the programme the choir rendered an anthem, "Rock of Ages." The anniversary exercises were brought to a conclusion with a hymn by the congregation and the benediction, which was pronounced by the pastor.
SEMI-CENTENNIAL SUPPER
( Taken from Somerville Journal, February 26, 1904.)
The semi-centennial parish supper of the First Univer- salist Church on Friday evening of last week was a grand success in every way. Under the direction of the Ladies' Sewing Circle, of which Mrs. Lyman H. Brown is president, nine long tables were spread in the large vestry and two in each of the small vestries, from which was served one of the best suppers that these ladies have ever served, and but few societies have as fine a reputa- tion. Mrs. Lyman H. Brown, Mrs. George D. Haven, and Mrs. I. H. Wiley had charge of the supplies in the kitchen, and the guests were served by Mesdames E. C. Hall, Fannie Shaw Graves, J. W. Peak, Ida Smith, Mabelle H. Gooding, J. E. Kelley, Henry S. Barron, A. E. Southworth, W. J. Pingree, R. M. Richardson, P. B. S. Thayer, Frank M. Lowell, Frank Thomas, F. L. Pin- gree, Robert Hayes, Joseph W. Mess, Edward H. Bol- ton, Carrie D. Coulter, Arthur W. Glines, Mattie S. Rines, Misses Ella Freeman, Helen J. Whipple, Mary C. Mills, Ida R. Smith, Abbie L. Day, Annie G. Stover, Mary F. Freeman, Estella M. Royal, Alice M. Nicker- son, Fannie M. Glines, Mabel G. Delano, Emily Poor, under the direction of Mrs. R. Y. Gifford, head waiter, and Mrs. William Taylor, assistant.
During the supper M. J. Messer and his wife and Miss Nettie Coburn gave the following musical selections : Mendelssohn's "Festival March"; Schlepegrell's over- ture, "Narcissus"; a selection, "Foxy Quiller," De- Koven; "Tone Pictures of the North and South," Ben- dix; and Miss Coburn gave a cornet solo. The church quartette sang "Spring Song" and "Forget Me Not," and Miss Smith, the soprano of the church quartette, sang "The Willows."
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FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
Following the serving of the supper, Rev. H. D. Maxwell called the company to order, and gave a very happy address of welcome, interspersing his remarks with many apt stories. He called upon Rev. Chester Gore Miller, of the Jamaica Plain church, to speak for young ministers of the denomination, who gave a very bright sermon upon "The Religious Tendency of the Time." Rev. R. Perry Bush, of Chelsea, responded for the "Women" with an address full of pleasing sentiment. Rev. Levi M. Powers, of Buffalo, a former pastor, re- ceived a very hearty welcome when he arose to speak. He made a very happy address full of stories, and feel- ingly told of the place in his heart for the people of this church.
Rev. William M. Kimmell brought the greeting of the mother church in Charlestown.
The last speaker was Rev. Charles A. Skinner, another former pastor, and who has a warm place in the hearts of the people of this church, if the way they greeted him as he rose to speak is any criterion, for the applause was long continued. He gave one of his characteristic ad- dresses, teeming with stories to illustrate the points he desired to make. He paid a high tribute to the work of the present pastor, Rev. H. D. Maxwell.
Following the speaking there was a general renewing of old acquaintance and hand-shaking.
The decorations consisted of greens wound about and from the pillars. A large 1854-1904 motto was on the wall just above the centre of the head table.
At the head table were seated Rev. H. D. Maxwell and wife, Rev. Charles A. Skinner, Rev. L. M. Powers, Rev. R. Perry Bush, Rev. William M. Kimmell, Rev. Chester Gore Miller, Charles A. Kirkpatrick, Mrs. M. M. Runey, Mrs. Parnell M. Hayes, Miss Angie Williams, Mrs. L. A. Shaw.
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SOCIAL HALL
EXTERIOR
SOCIAL HALL INTERIOR
CHURCH AUDITORIUM
VESTRY & SUNDAY SCHOOL ROOM
ANNIVERSARY EXERCISES, WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 17 ORDER OF SERVICE
1. Organ prelude. Buck
2. Invocation.
Rev. H. D. Maxwell,
3. Anthem-"The Lord is my Light". Horatio Parker
4. Bible reading. Rev. F. A. Gray
5. Prayer.
Rev. Charles A. Skinner.
6. Address-"Charles Tufts."
Rev. E. H. Capen, D. D.
7. Historical address. John F. Ayer
8. Anniversary hymn-Cross Street, C. M., F. M. Hawes
9. Address. Rev. Charles Conklin.
10. Address. Rev. Charles A. Skinner.
11. Anthem-"Rock of Ages". . Dudley Buck
12. Greeting from the Winter-hill Universalist Church. Rev. F. A. Gray.
13. Greeting from the West Somerville Univer- salist Church. Rev. William Couden.
14. Address.
Rev. L. M. Powers.
15. Hymn No. 609.
16. Organ postlude . Reed
EXTRACT FROM ADDRESS
BY REV. E. H. CAPEN, D. D., PRESIDENT OF TUFTS COLLEGE
"After the death of Charles Tufts, I made several calls on Mrs. Tufts, who told me several incidents in connec- tion with the founding of Tufts College. One of these was his remark of 'putting a light on the hill,' which has become famous. She told me, also, that Mr. Tufts was one day at work in a large field, when, becoming weary, he lay down under a tree and fell asleep. He dreamed of the great institution now planted on College Hill. This was a prophetic dream, and the fulfillment of it was not realized at the time when related by Mrs. Tufts.
"The founding of the college was no mere accident, for as early as 1840 Mr. Tufts had made plans for such an institution. In 1847 Samuel Frothingham, Sylvanus Cobb, and Mr. Tufts, with others, were incorporated for the purpose of establishing the Tufts institution for learn- ing. This was several years before Tufts College was thought of."
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MRS.L.A. SHAW
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MISS. MARY CLARK
DAVID HORTON
ALA
CHAS. TUFTS
6
MRS. CHAS. TUFTS
G. D. HAVEN
GEO.W. IRELAND
MRS. W. T. HAYES
FOUR OF THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS, STILL LIVING, AND FOUR MEM- BERS OF HONORED MEMORY
HISTORICAL ADDRESS
BY JOHN F. AYER
In the Somerville of to-day there is little to remind one of the town of fifty years ago. Being in 1854 but twelve years of age, it still retained, to a great extent, its baby looks. Many of its inhabitants were then engaged in agricultural or kindred pursuits, although there was a sprinkling of men doing business in Boston at the time we are considering.
For a moment let us recall some of the features that characterized the topography of the town. Union square, with its half-dozen houses, two stores, and yawn- ing sand-pit, posed as the "middle of the town." The Middlesex canal was in operation. Tolls were being collected on the Medford turnpike. Scattering farm- houses dotted the south side of Prospect, Central, and Spring Hills.
Winter Hill was as sparsely settled, while the summit of Walnut Hill was crowned by a single building, and Tufts College was under the management of Hosea Ballou, 2nd. The Trumpet, the organ of Universalism, was edited by Thomas Whittemore, who, as he himself declared, was the homeliest man in the denomination.
Occasional trains over the railroads were run, stop- ping at stations in the town, while the only other public conveyance was a single "hourly" that left Winter. Hill on the even hours, and Boston on the odd hours; fare, twenty-five cents the round trip. Highland avenue was hardly more than Barberry lane, and the Unitarian Church stood out in its solitude as a landmark for miles around. Along the way leading to this location quite a number of the original parishioners passed the "Hearse House" and the "Pound."
Somerville was a territory with few streets, no side- walks nor street lights, no drainage nor water supply. A single hand engine was the only protection against
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FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
fire, and to get a cent's worth of yeast one had to go to East Cambridge or Charlestown.
Other than brick-making, no mechanical work of any magnitude was carried on. The farmers were much in evidence, and the simple habits and neighborly customs of a country village prevailed. Out from the homes of this quiet community there came a few good men and devoted women, who, seeking a larger light, and "desir- ing to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ," took upon themselves the praiseworthy and agreeable duty of inaugurating a movement which enabled them to attain these cherished objects. Accord- ingly, on the fourteenth day of February, 1854, to a jus- tice of the peace was sent the following communi- cation :-
To Francis Tufts, Esq., Justice of the Peace :-
The undersigned, inhabitants of the town of Somer- ville, and legal voters therein, desire to form themselves into a religious society, to be known and called the First Universalist Society in Somerville, and request you to take the proper legal steps to accomplish this object by issuing a warrant, calling a meeting at the committee rooms on Medford street, on Wednesday evening, Feb- ruary 15, 1854.
IRA THORPE, CHARLES WILLIAMS, ERASTUS E. COLE, REUBEN HORTON, EDWIN MUNROE, JR., DAVID RUSSELL, FRANCIS RUSSELL, JAMES S. RUNEY, J. Q. TWOMBLY, ROBERT BURROWS,
DAVID P. HORTON, ALFRED HORTON.
A true copy. Attest :
C. WILLIAMS,
Clerk.
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FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY.
In response to the above, the said justice issued the following warrant :-
Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
Middlesex, ss.
To Ira Thorpe, of Somerville, in said County of Mid- dlesex. Greeting :
Whereas, application in writing has been made to me, Francis Tufts, Esquire, a justice of the peace within and for the County of Middlesex, by Charles Williams and eleven other persons, all legal voters in said Somerville, and declaring themselves to be inhabitants of Somerville aforesaid, of whom you are one, to call a meeting of said applicants, for the purpose of organizing themselves into a religious society in said Somerville ;
You are therefore hereby ordered to warn Charles Williams, Erastus E. Cole, Reuben Horton, Edwin Mun- roe, Jr., David Russell, Francis Russell, James S. Runey, J. Q. Twombly, Robert Burrows, David P. Horton, and Alfred Horton, the said applicants, to meet at the com- mittee room, so called, on Medford street, in said Som- erville, at seven o'clock in the afternoon of Thursday, the sixteenth day of February instant, by reading this warrant to them severally seven days, at least, before the said sixteenth day of February, then and there to organize themselves into a religious society, by choosing a clerk, two or more assessors, a treasurer and collector, and such other officers as may by said parties be then thought necessary, and qualifying them severally, as re- quired by law; and after such organization to take into consideration :---
1st. The name by which said society shall be called.
2nd. The expediency of procuring a house of public worship, and to adopt such measures in relation thereto as may then and there be thought proper.
3rd. The expediency of settling a minister, and taking measures for his support and maintenance.
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FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
4th. What measures the society shall take towards procuring and constituting members thereof.
Hereof fail not, and make return hereof at the time and place appointed of your doings herein.
Given under my name and seal this ninth day of Feb- ruary, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and fifty-four.
FRANCIS TUFTS, Justice of the Peace.
Pursuant to the foregoing warrant, I have notified and warned said applicants to meet at the said place in the mode prescribed and for the purpose mentioned in said warrant. IRA THORPE.
Middlesex, ss., February 16, 1854.
Subscribed and sworn to before me.
FRANCIS TUFTS, Justice of the Peace.
Under this warrant, a meeting was duly held in the little schoolhouse which stood at the junction of Shaw- mut and Medford streets, a constitution was adopted, and the First Universalist Society of Somerville was legally established February 16, 1854, Edwin Munroe, Jr., being the moderator, Charles Williams, clerk, with Edwin Munroe, Jr., Reuben Horton, Erastus E. Cole, standing committee, Edwin Munroe, Jr., treasurer, and Joseph Q. Twombly, collector.
At this first meeting Charles Tufts offered the society the lot of land upon which the present building stands, which was accepted. A committee to solicit subscrip- tions for a church was also appointed, the standing com- mittee, the collector, together with Abel Fitz, Francis Russell, and Ira Thorpe constituting the same. At this meeting George Fogg, John Hunnewell, George W. Ire- land, Charles Bird, Jr., and Abram Welch were voted into the society. Charles Williams, Jr.'s, name was added March 1, 1854.
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FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY.
The location was a convenient one; besides, it was free. The majority of the parishioners lived within a half-mile. Sunday trains did not run. It probably never occurred to these people that they ever would. Therefore the noise of passing trains on the Sabbath was not considered. A good proportion of the members of the new parish had been connected with other churches in East Cambridge and Cambridgeport, a long way off, and the idea of having a church home in their immediate vicinity, we can readily believe, was highly gratifying and thoroughly appreciated.
When on April 10 a meeting was held, there had been added to the list of members the names of John Thorn- ing, Augustus Hitchings, Henry Locke, Seward Dodge, Robert Hollingsworth, Eben S. Harmon, and Joseph El- liot. It was at this meeting,-less than two months from the date of the organization of the parish,-that it was voted "That the Rev. George H. Emerson be and hereby is invited to the pastoral charge of the First Uni- versalist Society of Somerville, to take effect the first day of May, 1854." There is nothing in the records of the parish to show that Mr. Emerson accepted the call, but we know that he became the pastor of the young society, and that he ministered unto it until 1859.
In May of the year 1854, the committee appointed to solicit subscriptions for the building of a suitable church reported that $1,000 had been subscribed. "This amount being deemed sufficient to warrant success," the con- struction of the chapel went forward to completion, and the annual meeting of the parish in March, 1855, was held in the new building. The alacrity which character- ized their movements and their promptness in raising the necessary funds has always been a characteristic of this society.
Up to 1859 the records show an increase of only six members,-Charles Kirkpatrick, A. J. Tilson, David San- born, John Mandall, B, S. Binney, T. B. Wilson. It is
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FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
a noticeable fact that the name of Charles Tufts does not appear on the list of members, neither does there appear to be any mention of his name, except in connection with the real estate transactions of the parish.
Up to 1861, including the annual meeting of 1861, only ten names were voted into the parish,-Reuben Carver, Charles H. Delano, John F. Ayer, Josiah Jen- nings, Addison Smith, Henry Bradshaw, in '59; David Elliot, in '60; Benoni Bixby, Edward Turner, Charles F. Potter, in '61.
In February, 1859, the standing committee were in- structed "to engage Rev. David H. Clark for one year, at such price as they can agree on," and at the annual meeting in March of that year, the action of the com- mittee was approved, and Mr. Clark became the pastor. Mr. Clark was a young man, this being, I think, his first settlement ; he gave general satisfaction, possessing many of the essentials of a successful minister, and the society flourished under his administration. He lived in a small house a little way up the railroad, just opposite where the Central Fire Station is, and, together with a sister, did the honors of the parsonage and answered the calls of the parish.
At the time of the coming of Mr. Clark, steps were taken to raise funds for "a more suitable and commo- dious house of worship"; a committee was chosen to so- licit subscriptions, and in March of that year (1859) the committee reported $3,125 subscribed. The result of their continued effort was that the second house of wor- ship,-the first regular meeting-house,-was completed. It was a wooden structure, having some claim to archi- tectural beauty, which, unfortunately, the present build- ing has not, and the parish was very comfortably housed.
On January 26, 1860, the church was formally dedi- cated, with the following order of exercises :-
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FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY.
1. Voluntary. .
By the choir.
2. Introductory prayer.
Rev. C. H. Leonard.
3. Selections from Scripture.
Rev. C. B. Lombard.
4. Hymn No. 703, Adams and Chapin Collection.
5. Sermon. Rev. David H. Clark.
6. Anthem.
7. Prayer of dedication.
Rev. A. G. Laurie.
8. Address to the society. Rev. A. A. Miner.
9. Original hymn. Mrs. N. T. Munroe.
10. Benediction. Rev. C. A. Skinner.
In January, 1861, Mr. Clark sent in his resignation, and, to indicate the feeling of the parish towards him, the meeting in January, 1861,
Voted: That we hereby accept the resignation ten- dered to this society by the pastor, Rev. D. H. Clark, and while thus severing the connection that has so pleas- antly and so profitably existed for the past two years, we take pleasure in bearing our united testimony to the ex- cellency of his Christian character and deportment while he has been among us, and to the many virtues he pos- sesses, so essential to success in the calling he has chosen. And we hereby tender to him our warmest wishes for his future usefulness and happiness.
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